| Kim Zimmer and Mark Dobies reveal what makes them click as a red-hot couple and true blue pals. After spending just a few minutes with GL's Kim Zimmer and Mark Dobies, it's easy to see that their chemistry extends well beyond the screen. Not only do good-natured barbs fly fast and furious between them, compliments - backhanded and otherwise - flow freely. So come along, as Soaps In Depth joins the duo for a bit of lunch and a lot of candid talk. Between The Sheets: Soaps In Depth: Internet fans raved about Reva and Noah's first love scene. Did that surprise you? Kim Zimmer: All we've had is that one love scene! So obviously, someone didn't like it. Mark Dobies: It's a family show. Come on now. Zimmer: It was the first man Reva's been with, sexually, for a number of years. I would have liked for it to go further with Reva being uncomfortable and asking Noah to turn the lights off. Dobies: I remember pouring the champagne, thinking, "I can't believe they're having me pour champagne on her." And the lines were just so corny that it was cute. You know, "You be America, and I'll be Columbus and explore you." Zimmer: Now there's none of the titillation that used to happen whenever Noah and Reva were in the same room. We need to somehow get back to that, because that is what their relationship is based on. Reva adores Noah, but I really think that she's been hardened by commitment at this time of her life. In Depth: Does she see him as more of a platonic relationship then? Zimmer: No, I think they have great sex! (She laughs) Light My Fire: In Depth: At what point did you two realize that you had great chemistry, off-screen as well as on-screen? Zimmer: I remember the first conversation I had with him, when I thought Noah was going to be with Harley. (To Dobies) You were standing outside the make-up room, and I came over to welcome you to the show. Did you know you were going to be working with me? Dobies: Yeah, Paul [Rauch, GL's executive producer] did tell me, "We're hooking you up with Kim Zimmer." Zimmer: "You mean the old broad with the blonde hair?" (She laughs) The first scenes we played together were so good. And Mark looks a lot like my husband A.C., so the physical attraction was there. Mark had just come out of the gym, looking like the Michelin Man, when A.C. met him, and A.C.'s like, "Yeah, I look a whole lot like him!" Dobies: We have a great connection. Zimmer: I don't know where the chemistry comes from. We enjoy each other's company. The Joker's Wild: In Depth: Mark, as a daytime newbie, was it comforting or intimidating to be paired with a soap veteran like Kim? Dobies: It would have been more intimidating had I known who she was. The only soap I'd ever watched was GENERAL HOSPITAL. Zimmer: I'd hate to think that anyone would be intimidated by the idea of working with me. I don't like that word. Dobies: (He laughs) If I was going to work with Robert DeNiro! Zimmer: Yeah, me, too! In Depth: Kim, you're known as a jokester. Did you haze Mark at all? Dobies: She just recently did. Zimmer: I did? Dobies: The green apron? Zimmer: Oh! (She laughs) This fan sent me a uniform catalog, with a letter that said, "This happened to catch my eye. Please turn to page 40. I just thought you might find this quite entertaining, and knowing your sense of humor, would find the proper place to put it." So I turn to page 40, and it's an old picture of Mark wearing a green farmer apron with a little white shirt and bow tie. I was peeing my pants! Wes Ramsey (Sam) came out of his dressing room and said, "You have to put this on the bulletin board." Dobies: I looked like Buster Brown. Zimmer: Wes circled it with highlighter! Dobies: So Kim's standing by the bulletin board, like, "Oh, did you check out the new stuff?" Zimmer: And he's looking everywhere but at the picture! Dobies: Finally, I saw it. All the color drained from my face. Zimmer: You just want to squeeze him because he's so easy to get! Dobies: They finally found that out. Behind Closed Doors: In Depth: Is there a particular rehearsal routine you two have? Zimmer: (Jokingly) We usually make mad, passionate love, just to prime ourselves. Dobies: She can be a bit noisy. (He laughs) Zimmer: Our routine is usually me sitting back, waiting for Mark to figure out what he's trying to do. There are days when I don't have the patience for it. He works really hard - I have to give him that - and I don't. It comes so naturally for me. The character is part of me. Dobies: I have to stay ahead of the material. Reva is ingrained in Kim. Zimmer: There are days that I have patience for it, and there are days when I'm like, "just say the line!" Kindred Spirits: In Depth: What were you most surprised to learn about your co-star? Zimmer: He's a stock market addict. Dobies: I have to say it, but Kim's one of the guys. She's the most glamorous person in the world, but she's one of the guys. Zimmer: I've always said that I've had an easier time talking to men than women. In Depth: What were your initial impressions? Zimmer: I had a big ole' crush on him. And then when I heard he was a triathlete, I was like, "Oh, my God!" (To Mark) So, come on. You didn't say what your first impression was of me. Dobies: Yeah, I did. Zimmer: No, you didn't say how absolutely more beautiful in person I was than on TV. Dobies: I'm searching. Zimmer: The reporter is going to write that, you know. Mark's out there searching for the first impressions about Kim. Dobies: The first time I met her, she came bopping up to me. She was so cute. When I first meet somebody and find it easy to talk to them, then I get a connection. And Kim was so open. Zimmer: I'm a big believer that anyone you come in contact with in the world, you had a contact with in a different world. And I've said it to Mark before. I believe we had some sort of connection in another life. |